Virginia unemployment rate dips to 4.1 percent

Virginia’s unemployment rate declined slightly in December after rising slowly during the previous four months.

The Virginia Employment Commission on Tuesday reported that the commonwealth’s jobless rate dropped by one-tenth of a percentage point during the month to 4.1 percent.

The report used seasonally adjusted figures, meaning they take into account seasonal fluctuations in the labor force.

The VEC said the labor force rose by 17,053 workers to 4.28 million, marking the fifth consecutive month of expansion.

The commonwealth nonfarm employment rose by 14,100 jobs in December to 3.95 million, a new record high.

The VEC also revised an earlier report of 13,600 jobs lost in November.  The new number is 9,700 jobs lost.

During December, employment increased in nine industry categories, while falling in the information sector (down 1,300 jobs to 65,000) and remaining unchanged in private education and health services (530,000 jobs total).

The biggest gain came in trade and transportation, up 4,500 jobs to 679,800.

In the past 12 months, Virginia has gained 49,600 nonfarm jobs. Northern Virginia accounted for 29,500 of them.